Before I start my ramblings for the day, I’d like to say how excited I am to have The Starling and the Hatter being released in just over a month! If you would like to read an advance copy, which I’ll start sending out on Saturday, please either go join this Facebook Group, or contact me and ask for details about how.
Speaking of Elise, who refuses to be a damsel in distress…I had an interesting interaction a couple weeks ago. Deep in the depths of an online forum (dun dun DUN), someone referred to me as a damsel in distress. I tried not to take umbrage to this idea, and that got me thinking about the damsel in distress cliche.
When is a damsel in distress NOT a damsel in distress? And do heroes cause problems by trying to save people they perceive as in distress, but are in fact not?
Perhaps it’s just a matter of perception. Someone thinks someone else is in trouble, but that person is like, “I’m fine. Get away from me.” But should a fear of offending someone by implying they are in distress prevent us from helping people? Overall, I think it’s better to ere on the side of helping instead of ignoring. I think there’s far less damage that can be done by accidentally trying to save someone who’s not in distress, than by ignoring a potentially harmful situation and allowing that person to be truly hurt.
And to conclude, an apt quote from The Starling and the Hatter:
Our unique wagon had been built to resemble a great beast or wolf, and I always played the damsel in distress in our dramatic act. It was a performance we’d worked hard to hone and improve, and the audience loved it.
I was done being the damsel in distress.
Be First to Comment